Author Archives: Xsivjosh

We have gone twice to Mercato. It is literally down the block from our new home, about a mile. It is a cute little Italian market with prepared foods as well as Italian goodies like Balsamic vinegars and pasta from Italy. They have a small kitchen and several tables for seating inside as well asContinue reading “Mercato at Gennaro’s in Kingston , NJ”

Our friend, Mitch, turned us onto Sal DeForte’s a couple of years ago. We have since been there a few times and liked all of our meals there. Barb has been enjoying the Branzino special, which seems always to be available. I have been exploring the different dinner options and have yet to find anyContinue reading “Sal DeForte’s in Ewing, NJ”

Last night we decided last minute to go out for a casual meal and try someplace new. I’d heard about a new Spanish place that served tapas and paella. I had driven by and saw a sign for oxtail and octopus specials. Say no more. Mi Espana is a small place in the Princeton shoppingContinue reading “Mi Espana in Princeton, NJ”

Barb and I have just recently returned to the Princeton area. As I always state, we are big fans of BYOB restaurants. They make dining out far more affordable. Also you get to bring wines that you favor rather than choosing from somone else’s list of wines that they can get away with marking upContinue reading “Mikonos Restaurant in Ewing, NJ”

Our friends Ken and Brynna turned us onto Alexander’s two years ago. Ken is hyperaware of my love for duck and byobs. He said they have the best duck dish in Naples. As far as I’m concerned, he is still correct. ( But there are still plenty more places to check out.) This chef hasContinue reading “Alexander’s in North Naples”

For the last three years we have been meeting our friends Bobby and Debbie for dinner at this restaurant. Gourmet? Certainly not. Clubby and steak house-ish? Very much so. The service is always on point. Food is very good. Meat is choice, not prime. We let them know that we’ve all shlepped an hour justContinue reading “Connor’s Steak and Seafood in the Gulf Coast Shopping Center…Where Naples Meets Venice (Florida, that is.)”

We haven’t eaten on 5th Ave at all this year. Whenever we drive by it looks really crowded. The traffic barely moves. Whenever I’ve called, all the tables have been booked. The online menus show much higher prices than in the past. Less places offer reasonable corkage fees. Yet lots of good places remain openContinue reading “Bistro 821 in Naples, FL”

We heard about an older French restaurant in Naples that had recently changed hands. The new owners are a young couple from Nice, France. The chef/husband has done time in some of the very good kitchens that I have visited and so we decided to check out Cafe Normandie in North Naples. We initially wentContinue reading “Cafe Normandie in Naples, FL”

Empire Bagel has been around for several years, located on Marco Island. Their bagels have been chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside. These are the two requisite qualities that make a bagel edible. The various degrees of crunch and chew, as well as size, are what differ one bagel from the next.Continue reading “Empire Bagels in Naples/Marco Island”

When going out to dinner, choosing a place gets more difficult as your group gets larger. Factor in the search for places that serve al fresco, a cold snap in the weather and different preferences in favored dining times, making a choice can become almost impossible. It’s a good thing that Vince and Claudia, TonyContinue reading “Parmesan Petes in North Naples”